Podcast blurb: The connections between artistic events and the rejuvenation of social life in rural areas, where the need for creativity is pressing, are becoming increasingly evident. Many small, outlying Japanese communities are grappling with the effects of depopulation, an aging population, and economic decline. The need to prevent further decline has led to the emergence of art as a remedy for strengthening these communities. Both large and small-scale art festivals deeply rooted in the community have been organized with the primary goal of revitalizing these struggling areas. These festivals showcase artworks that celebrate the local landscape and incorporate elements of the region's cultural heritage. This podcast aims to explore how these creative events stimulate population growth and bolster the resilience and social connections within the community. The implications of this discussion suggest that active community involvement and the establishment of creative entrepreneurship are crucial elements in the success of festivals in rural areas, as well as in ensuring that sustainable development outcomes are maximized.

Meng’s bio: Meng Qu, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Vice Director at the Center for Advanced Tourism Studies (CATS) Hokkaido University; co-convener at Small Island Cultures Research Initiative (SICRI); Associate Editor of Folk, Knowledge, Place and Regional Editor of Event Management journal. He is also the Guest Lecturer at National Taiwan University and Hiroshima University. He is also the editorial board member at Tourism Geographies; Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology (JHTT); Shima; Journal of Marine and Island Cultures (KMIC); Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism; Journal of Responsible Tourism Management (JRTM) and the advisory board member at CREATOUR International. His research draws from range of disciplinary and theoretical perspectives, especially from the fields of creative/tourism geography, rural and island studies, with a focus on East Asia. Key research topics include socially engaged art festivals, relational aesthetics, creative in-migrants, sustainability, and rural revitalization.

Further reading and resources:

Latest Special Issue: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Small Island Cultures and Heritage

Latest Community Project: Island Revitalization Documentary Series

Latest Selected Publications (related to this topic):

Qu, M., & Zollet, Z. (2023). Neo-endogenous revitalisation: Enhancing community resilience through art tourism and rural entrepreneurship. Journal of Rural Studies. 97. 105-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.11.016

Qu, M., & Zollet, S. (2023) The Power of Small: Creative In-migrant Microentrepreneurs in Peripheral Japanese Islands During COVID-19. In Adventures in Small Tourism: Studies and Stories. Scherf, Kathleen, (Eds). Calgary: University of Calgary Press.


Zollet, S., & Qu, M. (2023). Urban-to-rural lifestyle migrants in Japanese island communities: balancing quality of life expectations with reality. In P. H. Johansen, A. Tietjen, EB. Iversen, HL. Lolle, & Fisker JK. (Eds.), Rural Quality of Life. Manchester University Press.

Qu, M., McCormick, A. D., & Funck, C. (2022). Community resourcefulness and partnerships in rural tourism, Journal of Sustainable Tourism 30 (10), 2371-2390. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1849233

Qu, M. (2022). Socially engaged art tourism, in-migrants micro-entrepreneurship, and peripheral island revitalization. Wakayama Tourism Review 3, 17-19. https://10.19002/10.19002.3.17

Qu, M., Cheer, J. M. (2021). Community art festivals and sustainable rural revitalisation. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(11-12), 1756-1775. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2020.1856858

Qu, M., & Funck, C. (2021). Rural art festival revitalizing a Japanese declining tourism island. Nancy Duxbery (Eds). In Cultural Sustainability, Tourism and Development (Re)articulations in Tourism Contexts, 51-68. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367201777-6

Social media profiles:

Website: https://www.qu-meng.com

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/KinghoodMo

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Meng-Qu-5

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-meng-qu-02304861/